Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko

MINSK, March 12. /ITAR-TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko denied pressure on his country in connection with events in Ukraine.

"Nobody is putting pressure on me, neither the Kremlin nor anybody else has ever pressed me, because it is futile, or "unproductive," as diplomats say," Lukashenko said at a session of the republic's Security Council which met to review preliminary results of the first phase of check into the Belarusian army's combat readiness.

Commenting on media reports, Lukashenko said national interests determined his position on the Ukrainian events.

Lukashenko said he would defend Belarusian interests and act in strict conformity with the treaties, including the treaty on the Union State where "Belarus has direct obligations as does Russia."